Clean Water and Sanitation
Overall status and progress of transboundary water resource cooperation
The “2024 Progress on Transboundary Water Cooperation: Mid-term status of SDG indicator 6.5.2 with a special focus on climate change”(2024 Global Report) presents the global results of the 2023 third reporting exercise.
Transboundary Cooperation in the Arab Region
Third Regional Report on SDG Indicator 6.5.2
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 6.5.2 enables the monitoring of operational arrangements for transboundary water cooperation. The third regional report for SDG indicator 6.5.2 assesses the status and progress of transboundary water cooperation in the Arab region. Participation in the reporting process has improved significantly, with 17 out of 21 Arab countries sharing transboundary basins submitting data to the third monitoring exercise in 2023, compared to just 10 countries in 2017. In total, 90 per cent of the region’s countries have engaged in at least one round of reporting, demonstrating growing awareness and commitment to transboundary water cooperation. The report highlights significant discrepancies in how countries report transboundary basins, including inconsistencies provided data. Moreover, it tackles institutional and legal gaps under a changing climate, in addition to emphasizing the ongoing data availability and financial problems. To accelerate progress, the report recommends integrating climate adaptation into transboundary frameworks, harmonizing data reporting protocols, leveraging regional institutions for dialogue, and aligning SDG reporting efforts. Strengthening technical capacities, enhancing data systems, and promoting inclusive stakeholder participation are essential to achieving effective transboundary water cooperation. Despite some advancements, substantial efforts are needed to bridge existing gaps and meet SDG targets within the limited timeframe.
Acknowledgements
The present report was produced by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), under the overall guidance of the Executive Secretary, Rola Dashti, and the insightful direction of the Leader of the Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability Cluster, Carol Chouchani Cherfane.
Executive summary
The third regional report on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 6.5.2 assesses the status and progress of transboundary water cooperation in the Arab region. This indicator measures the proportion of transboundary basin areas covered by operational arrangements, which is essential to achieving SDG target 6.5 on implementing integrated water resource management at all levels by 2030.
Background
Worldwide, 313 river basins that cross international borders have been identified, and 468 transboundary aquifers. The Arab region is home to 27 transboundary river and lake basins and 43 transboundary aquifers.
Advancing progress towards cooperation
For the third reporting exercise, while the Arab region shows some clear progress, there is still a substantial gap that needs to be filled to fulfil the requirements of SDG indicator 6.5.2 and achieve target 6.5.
Conclusions and recommendations
This section summarizes the findings of the third reporting round under SDG indicator 6.5.2 for the Arab region into one general finding on progress and five findings on specific issues, and proposes recommendations for each of the latter.
Résumé
Cadre juridique mondial et plateforme intergouvernementale de coopération dans le domaine des eaux transfrontières, la Convention sur l’eau exige des Parties qu’elles préviennent, maîtrisent et réduisent l’impact transfrontière, qu’elles utilisent les eaux transfrontières de manière raisonnable et équitable et qu’elles en assurent la gestion durable dans le cadre d’une coopération. Les Parties partageant des eaux transfrontières sont tenues de coopérer en concluant des accords à cette fin et en créant des organes communs, en tenant des consultations, en effectuant une surveillance et une évaluation communes, en échangeant des données et des informations, en mettant en place des systèmes d’alerte et d’alarme, en élaborant des politiques, des programmes et des stratégies harmonisés et en menant d’autres activités de coopération.
Avant-propos
J’ai le plaisir de vous présenter le troisième rapport sur l’application de la Convention sur la protection et l’utilisation des cours d’eau transfrontières et des lacs internationaux (Convention sur l’eau), dont le secrétariat est assuré par la Commission économique des Nations Unies pour l’Europe (CEE-ONU).
Note explicative
Le mécanisme d’établissement de rapports au titre de la Convention sur l’eau prévoit que les pays présentent des rapports nationaux sur l’état de la coopération transfrontière en ce qui concerne les cours d’eau, lacs et aquifères partagés. Cette perspective nationale, indispensable à l’efficacité du mécanisme, soulève cependant certaines difficultés en matière de présentation des données.
Introduction
Le mécanisme d’établissement périodique de rapports au titre de la Convention sur la protection et l’utilisation des cours d’eau transfrontières et des lacs internationaux (Convention sur l’eau), instauré par la Réunion des Parties en 2015, est devenu un atout important pour appuyer la mise en œuvre de la Convention.